Most of the player types line up between the two.
Butt-Kicker=Slayer
Casual Gamer=Watcher
Method Actor=Actor
Power Gamer=Power Gamer
Storyteller=Storyteller
Tactician=Thinker
Specialist=
= Explorer
= Instigator
While I like 4e's Explorer as a separate category- it describes me better than method actor or storyteller, I am not sure about some of 4e's description:
I disagree with 4e lumping Power Gamer and min/maxing together. Power gaming is just wanting to play a powerful character whether starting above the common person (degree can vary) and/or playing for the acquisition of power over time (however, power is defined in the game). You don't need to engage in min/maxing which is an extreme form of optimization ( many other types use optimization to prioritize choices or resource allocation to create a to best represent their character ). Many Powergamers don't know how, about or care for optimization or min/maxing. If it was about min/maxing, may power gamers would be drawn to systems that allow for it. Playing old school DND with a priority for leveling and its carrots and treasure acquisition would be power gaming as the player's emphasis is on gaining power as defined by the game. This places Optimization (and, therefore, its extreme version min/max) on a different axis).
Instigator, in my experience, usually, comes from a player whose style is not being catered to and decides to take it out in a passive aggressive manner- I, especially, see people on WOTC and to a lesser degree on RPG.net stating that they are going to disrupt games by instigating rather than quit. However, it also a tool of Actors (it is what my character would do in the situation given their culture, values/goals, established personality in play, etc. ) and Storytellers (this would make for an interesting scene to explore or take the story in an interesting direction) and might be something certain casual gamers/watchers might do as they are there primarily for friends and not the game itself.
I also see Specialist as a good classification not covered by 4e's scheme. I know a lot people that like playing the same type of character: Gishes, ninjas, spellcasters, sneaky types or, simply, dwarf fighters. It is not about power, acting, storytelling, etc. It is an archetype to which they are, strongly, drawn to and they, often, can't explain why except they find it it cool. It, like power gaming and butt kicking, might draw upon heavy optimization towards high numbers to meet the concept or the archetype. However, unlike power gaming, it not necessarily about "power"
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